Eggnog Cookie Bars are the ultimate creamy, eggnog lovers dessert bar. The perfect cookie bottom covered with the best creamy eggnog icing!
I just love eggnog. So much so, that I sometimes wish I could drink it all year long. Seriously. When I tell my husband this, he says I'd probably get sick of it. He may be right and I wouldn't want to lose my love of eggnog so it remains as a seasonal treat and I think that it should stay that way.
Because I love eggnog so much I am always so excited to use it in many desserts and drinks. You can make eggnog lattes, use it instead of cream when making cream biscuits, stir it into waffle or pancake batter. You can also stir it into mashed sweet potatoes, incorporate it into a cheesecake, make pudding, muffins or even flavored marshmallow.
You can cook eggnog into a caramel sauce, serve it with rum (for the adults) or turn it into frosting. The possibilities are only limited to your imagination! For more ideas you can check here
This recipe for Eggnog Cookie Bars in particular is fabulous and a family favorite! When friends and family come over for the holiday, they always request them. The delicious cookie base with the creamy smooth topping is totally divine and definitely worth a try.
Growing up, my parents used to make a giant punch bowl full of rum and eggnog for guests that would come over for holiday parties. I mean, what holiday would be complete without this tasty drink. For us kids, we got the non-alcohol version and we were more than happy to drink it.
I never tried rum and eggnog until I was of age and once I did, I was hooked on eggnog for life...or at least every holiday gathering. My husband Ken on the other hand had a grandfather who used to sneak him sips of the adult version when his parents weren't looking.
So that is where my love of eggnog started and now I get to share this delicious recipe with you. A few more holiday recipes are listed below. My hope is that you will find some that you like and make for your friends and family when they come over to visit.
Now let's talk about this delicious dessert and how to make it. The cookie base is fantastic on it's own and you can definitely serve it just as is. The cookie just tastes so good and you can always add it to your sweets trays.
Instead of eggnog yogurt you can substitute vanilla greek yogurt. It depends on your preference or if eggnog yogurt is not available where you are. The cookie base still turns out beautifully and tastes great just with a vanilla flavor instead. Luckily, this cookie base is so soft and full of flavor that you don't even need the creamy icing on top.
That being said, you can also do the same with the icing. Leave out the eggnog and just add milk. It's still the same recipe but with a different result altogether. For the rest of the year when eggnog is unavailable, this is one of my go to recipes to impress my friends and family. I'm sure yours will love them too!
For me, the icing or frosting is the most important part of these Eggnog Cookie Bars. More important than the cookie itself, in my humble opinion. This icing needs to be amazing and have a subtle flavor and it does.
Best Eggnog Frosting
To make this delicious eggnog frosting, blend together icing or powdered sugar, butter and eggnog until it has a smooth and creamy consistency. You can make this icing as thick or as thin as you would like it AND as flavorful. It all depends on how much eggnog you add.
I urge you to taste the icing as you go so you can figure out the perfect amount of eggnog for you. Just add an additional teaspoon at a time until you find the right flavor. What could be easier?!
In my home we make it with extra eggnog but the decision is yours to try.
Now I know that eggnog yogurt can be difficult to find but luckily, you can make it yourself. Just grab ¼ cup of Greek yogurt and add 1 tablespoon of eggnog. Stir until incorporated and presto..eggnog yogurt. It's that simple!
Ken will even add a dash of nutmeg to the greek yogurt and eggnog mixture and it just tastes great! When I make it I leave the nutmeg out and it still tastes great. Regardless, there is no need to stress at all if you are unable to find eggnog yogurt. Now you know how to make it yourself!
Ingredients in Eggnog Cookie Bars
- butter, softened
- sugar
- eggs
- eggnog yogurt (if you can't find it make homemade with plain greek yogurt, eggnog and a pinch of nutmeg or or just vanilla greek yogurt)
- vanilla
- baking powder
- baking soda
- flour
Best Eggnog Icing
- butter
- icing or powdered sugar (may add up to ½ cup more if needed)
- eggnog (or milk)
- sprinkles for decoration
How To Make Eggnog Cookie Bars
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Line a square 8 x 8 inch pan with parchment paper and coat with nonstick spray. Set aside.
In a large bowl, with an electric mixer, combine butter, sugar, yogurt and vanilla.
Add in dry ingredients, a little at a time and mix until evenly combined. (*hint* batter will be thick)
Spread batter out into prepared pan.
Bake in preheated oven for about 20 minutes, or until firm and slightly golden. Cool completely before frosting.
To make frosting/icing, blend eggnog, powdered sugar and butter together with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy. Make sure to add the powdered sugar a little at a time so it doesn't go everywhere.
Spread icing/frosting generously over the top of the cookie bars, add sprinkles, and cut into squares
Holiday Desserts to Try
Easy Stuffed Gingerbread Cookies
Old Fashioned Peanut Brittle Bites
Grandma’s Chocolate Eggnog Pudding Cake
Grandma's Chocolate Orange Cake
Holiday Chocolate Dream Stuffed Cookie Cups
Holiday Surprise Basket Cookies
Stovetop Raisin Almond Rice Pudding
Eggnog Cookie Bars Video
Eggnog Cookie Bars
Ingredients
- ½ cup butter, softened or 1 stick
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 large eggs
- ¼ cup eggnog yogurt, or plain greek yogurt with 1 tablespoon eggnog, stirred OR Use Vanilla Greek Yogurt with NO Eggnog
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 2 ¼ cups flour
Buttercream Icing
- ½ cup butter or 1 stick
- 2 cups icing or powdered sugar may add up to ½ cup more if needed
- ¼ cup eggnog or milk
Decorations
- sprinkles or sparkles for topping
Instructions
- Mix butter, sugar, yogurt, and vanilla in a large bowl with electric mixer.
- Add in dry ingredients, and mix until evenly blended. *Batter will be thick.
- Line a square 8x8 inch pan with parchment and spray a little nonstick, then spread batter out in pan.
- Bake at 350 degrees for around 20 minutes, or until firm and slightly golden.
- Cool completely before frosting.
- To make frosting, blend all ingredients together with an electric mixer until smooth.
- Spread generously over top of your cookie bars, add sprinkles, and cut into squares.
Nutrition
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